Category Archives: Travel

At the very beginning of last April, I set out on a day trip with my mom and sister to explore some of the lesser visited natural areas in southern Illinois. Many people familiar with the region think of mainstays like Giant City State Park and Garden of the Gods as worthy hiking destinations. However, if you’re interested in places a little off the beaten path, read on for highlights of that spring day extravaganza.

Ferne Clyffe State Park

We began our day at Ferne Clyffe State Park on the Big Rocky Hollow Trail. Located about a mile outside the town of Goreville, this state park is smack dab between interstates 57 and 24, making it easily accessible for day-trippers.

(Fun fact: Goreville sat in the path of totality during the 2017 solar eclipse, and will be close to, if not in, the path of totality during another solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.)

Big Rocky Hollow Trail is a wide, level path that cuts through woods in a small canyon until it arrives at a short waterfall. A different trail branches off early on and follows the rising bluffs to the right. In early spring, bits of vegetation and hardy flowers pop up among boulders and under the tree canopy. Rock faces are covered in springy, bright green moss. Walking among those boulders was an otherworldly experience for us. To lengthen our hike, we followed the path partway up the bluff and then returned to follow the main trail to the waterfall and back.

Dixon Springs State Park

About 25 minutes southeast of Ferne Clyffe is Dixon Springs State Park. While it does have a few hiking trails, we stopped off to use the park’s picnic facilities.

The almost 800-acre site sits on a rock face and was used as a health spa in the 19th century because of the seven mineral springs onsite. The remnants of a small community remain, including at least two old church buildings perched atop a hill.

We ate lunch at a picnic table right next to a beautiful stream, and spent some time exploring the immediate area and soaking in the lovely spring air. We crossed a bridge overlooking one of the springs and walked up to the site of the old settlement. Because we had packed our day with destinations, we then moved on to make the most of it.

Golconda

We couldn’t come so close to the Ohio River, just ten miles from Dixon Springs, and not go take a look at it. So we turned left out of the park onto Illinois Route 146 and drove into Golconda, a historic river town with a population of 2,000.

Main Street was absolutely lined with motorcycles that day. We kept going and parked near the Pope County Historical Society, across from the courthouse, and proceeded up the levee steps to peek at the mighty Ohio River.

The Pope County Historical Society was also well worth a visit. Rooms upon rooms tell the story of Golconda and the surrounding area. You can see varied collections exhibiting Golconda’s history, learn about the Trail of Tears, and spy the high water mark from the 1937 flood.

One other notable stop for us was The Chocolate Factory, a gourmet chocolate shop that opened in 1977 and is located across from Dixon Springs State Park. We made sure to stop in and pick up some homemade fudge as we headed westward once again.

Heron Pond Natural Area

To cap off our day of wandering, we headed to Heron Pond Natural Area to see some natural cypress swamp. A lot of people probably don’t realize that southern Illinois has such a gem – it was definitely my first time hiking through a habitat like that.

Heron Pond is located less than 15 minutes south of Vienna. The parking lot was rather remote, and then it was a good half mile at least before reaching the boardwalk that enters the swamp. We followed a dirt path (the Todd Fink Heron Pond Trail) that bridged a creek and then followed it. Turtles sunning themselves on the opposite bank plunged into the water as we walked by.

If Ferne Clyffe felt surreal, this place was even more so. The ground and cypress roots were completely covered in water, which was in turn carpeted with duckweed. Centuries-old cypress trees rose out of the water and towered upward, competing for sky and sunlight exposure. It was the kind of place someone could get lost in time just experiencing the silence.

This year, we hope to complete another similar day trip, picking out places we haven’t been and enjoying the arrival of spring. I encourage you to get out, wherever you are, and do the same.

A picture off my Instagram feed. No money for an awesome camera with multiple lenses, so the Iphone’s the way to go for now.

Twenty two. Fresh out of college. Small town life in Illinois. Idealistic, but realistic.

The whole world is at my feet, or rather, I am at the feet of the world. This is no small thing to consider.

I used to blog when I was in high school. I rambled on about dreams and musings, about travels I had not yet experienced; I wrote about life, in general, really.

The goals of this blog are three-fold.

I want to learn more about HTML and CSS.

A single class in college is not sufficient, especially if the acquired skills are not exercised further. The design of this blog is subject to change, perhaps frequently.

I want to write about travel.

The word “travel” possesses a certain mystique. It is something I admire and desire. However, being young and poor, there are severe limitations concerning where I go. For now, I will cover where I have been. It is important to know that I strongly believe in seeking the treasures out your back door.

Too often, we fall into the mindset that when we live somewhere, we live there and nothing else. Not true. Get out a map today and highlight all the places you haven’t explored. What about all the shops you haven’t been in because you think that sort of thing is for tourists? How about restaurants? Parks? Lakes? Rivers? Do not spite anywhere you haven’t been. Go live in the area in which you live.

I want to write about writing.

I have a journalism degree, but freelance work isn’t quite quenching my thirst for writing. As I write more, I hope to see the development of a strong personal voice. My own style.

There are many raindrops under this umbrella to explore. Grammar. AP Style. Spelling. Journalistic vs. creative writing. Knowledge is power, and in my profession, I want to become as fluent as possible in the many nuances of the English language.

So please, follow along on this journey winding through these subjects and perhaps others. Maybe you will find inspiration, maybe you will learn something as I learn the same, or maybe I can learn something from you. Once I get a better handle on inserting photos into blog posts, you will be seeing much more of my amateur photoness.

I might not be Shakespeare, but this is my blog. If I can pen new words within these cyber walls, I will.

The Mission of Live Where You Are

Hi, my name is Angie! My blog, Live Where You Are, exists to encourage myself and others to make the most of their stomping grounds. Through sharing my personal experiences, I aim to inspire people to get out and explore their neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, and culture.

Join me as I explore St. Louis, St. Louis County, and the surrounding areas. Whether you’ve lived in the same place for decades or are in a brand new locale, let’s be inspired together and live, and really experience to the fullest, all that’s available right in our own backyards.